BJP workers try to barge into HMC

Kolkata: The area adjacent to Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) turned into a battlefield after BJP leaders and workers forcefully tried to enter the HMC premises on Monday afternoon in Howrah.

According to sources, BJP Yuva Morcha had called for a rally to HMC, demanding an immediate municipal election in Howrah. At present, the HMC is run by a board of administrators.

On Monday afternoon, BJP Yuva Morcha workers were marching towards the HMC building when police intercepted the rally at Mangalahat. Despite repeated requests, BJP workers refused to cooperate and tried to move ahead.

Though police set a barrier using aluminum guard wall and guard rails, BJP workers forcefully removed the guard rails and went towards HMC. Having no other way to stop the violent BJP workers, police applied force. But that did not help much. Later, police had to initiate lathi charge to disperse the BJP workers.

However, that move failed as well and BJP workers started assaulting police personnel who were trying to refrain them from going to HMC. Some BJP workers tried to climb up the closed gate of HMC. Police subsequently called in a water cannon and charged it on BJP workers, which dispersed the mob.

On the other hand, a similar situation arose near Karunamoyee in Salt Lake after teachers of Sishu Siksha Kendra (SSK) and Madhyamik

Siksha Kendra (MSK) tried to move towards Bikash Bhavan on Monday afternoon.

Since the last few days, several SSK and MSK teachers have been showing agitation, demanding salary hike. On Monday, they tried to break the barricades put up by police to reach Bikash Bhavan. The police force deployed there tried to stop them and later a huge police force was sent to bring the situation under control.

During the agitation, the road towards City Center from Karunamoyee via Bikash Bhavan was closed and all the vehicles were diverted through other link roads.